Link to this page: https://secure.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/14620

Posted on 6 June 2012 at 11:49 GMT

YFJ condemns use of slave labour during Jubilee weekend

Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ) plans to step up fightback to beat Workfare

Over the weekend, the Queen added herself to the list of Workfare providers. £12 million was spent to take her along the river Thames on Sunday 3rd June.

But, Close Protection UK, the greedy firm that won the stewarding contract for the Jubilee refused to fork up anything resembling a decent wage for its staff.

On Sunday, Close Protection UK matched slave labour pay with slave labour conditions. 30 unpaid workers, and another 50 on a far below minimum wage of £2.80 an hour were forced to work long 14-hour shifts in illegal conditions.

Working stewards were forced to go without sleep and they were denied food or access to toilet facilities.

They were made to change outside in the cold, were not provided with adequate clothing, and were made to sleep in tents in a boggy field after they had finished their shift.

Ian Pattison, Youth Fight for Jobs spokesperson said: "Many of the participants were told they would be paid, but upon arrival they were informed that the weekend's work was a test for 'paid' jobs at the Olympics.

"This only goes to show that big business is ringing its hands with the prospect of repeating this super-exploitation over the rest of the summer at the Olympics.

"Youth Fight for Jobs has been at the forefront of protesting against Workfare, organising 'name and shame' and pickets of the shops of Workfare participants.

"These protests have forced one of the Workfare schemes, Work Experience, to in effect be scrapped. On Sunday 10th June, we will hold our national meeting, at ULU in London from 10:30am to 4pm to discuss how we can force the entire Workfare scheme be scrapped, and demand that the money currently being wasted on the profits of big business be used to instead create jobs, education, and public services".

Youth Fight for Jobs was launched in 2009 in response to rising levels of youth unemployment. Last year it organised a 330 mile Jarrow March for Jobs. It is backed by the Unite, PCS, RMT, CWU, UCU, FBU, Bectu and TSSA trade unions.

For more information, contact Ian Pattison (Youth Fight for Jobs spokesperson) on 07766585543 or 02085587947

A Youth Fight for Jobs press release

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